Translation commentary on Proverbs 25:7

“For it is better to be told, “Come up here””: This saying probably assumes the setting of a banquet hall. “It is better to be told” may have to be expressed actively; for example, “It is better for the king [ruler, chief] to say to you, ‘Come and sit closer to me.'” ““Come up here”” is the invitation of the king to take a more important place closer to him.

“Than to be put lower in the presence of the prince”: “Be put lower” renders the causative form of a verb meaning to abase or humiliate. We may say, for example, “than to be humiliated [embarrassed] by being told by an official to sit further away.” “Prince” translates the same word used in 17.7, but means here a person of high social rank. “In the presence of the prince” may mean to be humiliated before the king or important person and his guests. Or it may mean to be humiliated by being given a lower place than a more important guest. Revised English Bible translates “for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be moved down to make room for a nobleman.”

Revised Standard Version and most modern translations follow the ancient versions in connecting the third line of verse 7 with verse 8. This saying, as rendered by Revised Standard Version, warns against going to court as a witness too hastily.

“What your eyes have seen”: that is, “what you have witnessed someone doing.” Note that Good News Translation places this clause after the first line of verse 8 to give a more natural sentence in English.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 25:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 25:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “It is better to be told to go and sit in front than to rush there, and afterwards you will be told to get up when a famous person comes.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “It is better to be invited by the king to take a seat
    than to be dishonored in front of the officials.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “(It is) better if the king will-say to you (sing.) to sit there than he will-say to you (sing.) to leave, for you (sing.) will-be-put-to-shame before/[lit. in front of] the honorable men.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “It-is-better that the king be the one who makes- you (sing.) -important than that you (sing.) be-shamed in front of the officials.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “it is better if someone tells you to sit closer to the king
    than for someone to tell you, while the king is listening, to sit further away in order that someone who is more important may sit closer to the king.” (Source: Translation for Translators)